State Refuses to Transfer Former Psych Center Lands to Town

New York State park officials have turned down Councilman Robert Creighton’s request to have 55 acres of Nissequogue River State Park land, the former Kings Park Psych Center, transferred to the town for future recreational use.

Smithtown Town Board voted in January to have Town Attorney John Zollo write a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s offices asking the state if they would be willing to consider a transfer of the land to the Town of Smithtown. Supervisor Patrick Vecchio voted against the measure.

“State Parks has consistently responded that it is premature to consider re-development proposals for the property.  Rather, at this time, State Parks is focused on successfully completing the first phase of remediation on the property,” writes Rose Harvey, commissioner of state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on April 1.

The state is in the middle of a $6.8 million project to remediate and demolish 15 vacant and condemned buildings on the grounds of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center. Harvey said the state’s primary goal is to ensure the safe demolition of the complex and remediation.

In addition, the state said It’s “not a feasible option”  to consider the Town of Smithtown’s request in the future.

“A number of stakeholders involved in the future of the Kings Park property have expressed opposition to such a transfer,” Harvey wrote.

The Kings Park Civic Association spoke out against town officials’ request for the state to transfer 55 acres of the Nissequogue River State Park to town’s control, calling it a “land grab.”